No wind no play

The J/24 Europeans conclude with a Greek win

A disappointing close to the J24 European Championships as the wind refused to play in Souda Bay, Crete. Just six races were completed over four days.

This morning, a millpond greeted competitors looking forward to three races and a battle between local Greek sailor, Alex Tagaropoulos; Matthias Garzmann of Germany and quadruple past European Champion, Ian Southworth.

With five points separating the three, any outcome was possible, but with no wind, the race officer held the fleet ashore until mid-day. Gradient breeze of six knots couldn't establish and at 1pm the race officer abandoned hope of a start.

The 2009 J24 European Championship title goes to Alex Tagaropoulos and the crew of Hellenic Police on 10 points, from Mathias Garzmann and his Hamburg crew on IDS, two points behind and from Great Britain's Ian Southworth and the crew of Inmarsat, on 15 points - the exact finishing order of the last race sailed.

The 2010 European Championship will be held at Romport, Holland in May and the World Championship will be held in Malmo, Sweden during August.